23 Jul 2013

The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) has considered establishing satellite offices at major centres across the country during the 2009/2010 financial year, finance and development planning assistant minister, Mr Vincent Seretse, has said.

 Responding to a question in Parliament from Francistown South MP, Mr Seretse said the project included setting up new offices at four regions namely; Palapye, Francistown, Maun, and Ghanzi with the aim of bringing PPADB services closer to Batswana and improve access to PPADB services.

Due to budgetary constraints experienced across the whole government, he said the project was put on hold, adding that the project might be considered in the future when funds permit. “I am aware of the challenges faced by people in the north and other regions of this country when they want to access services of this office," he said.

“In view of that, the PPADB had devolved some of its functions to Ministerial Tender Committees and has established District Administration Tender Committees throughout the country (including Francistown and surrounding areas) to facilitate the adjudication and award of tenders at District level,” he added.

The assistant minister also said PPADB was also implementing the Integrated Procurement Management System (IPMS) project which included online Contractor Registration Module. The system, he said, allowed contractors to apply for registration with PPADB wherever they were located without having to travel to PPADB office in Gaborone.

“Registration fees can be paid at any post office in the country and PPADB continues to improve efficiency of the system in order to improve access to services,” he said. In addition, Mr Seretse said services such as certifying PPADB certificates would become unnecessary over time as verification of certificates would be done on-line.

Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister when he would consider opening PPADB office in Francistown and whether he was aware of the inconvenience suffered by people in the north when they wanted to access the services of PPADB. ENDS